County OKs permit for liquor store near church

Published: Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Plenty of neighbors complained recently about a new liquor store in their midst.

But the church next door wasn't one of the complainants.

The County Commission approved a special-use permit that allows a new liquor store at Baseline Road and Southeast 24th Street.

The outlet will sit next to the Good News Church — which was the primary reason the board got involved.

County land regulations forbid retail liquor sales within 500 feet of a church, school or public park unless the store owner is granted an exception. Beer and wine are OK, if they are sold for consumption elsewhere.

The liquor store owner, Jignesh Mody, needed the board's endorsement because the church sits 243 feet from his 5.9-acre site.

Commissioners received plenty of opposition to the plan at Tuesday's zoning hearings. Three residents from the Oakhurst subdivision across the street objected. One of them, Mike Liuzzi, presented a petition featuring the names of 70 people who wanted the proposal rejected.

Liuzzi explained that the community is worried about increased traffic and trash.

Oakhurst residents, Liuzzi said, routinely pick up beer bottles in their front yards discarded by the customers of a bar located in the Baseline Commons shopping center on the other side of where the liquor store will go.

Mody countered that the neighbors would not fight his store if a major retailer were introducing liquor sales on the property.

A majority of the commission sided with a staff recommendation to grant the permit.

The planning staff's report pointed out that the bar, C&D's Coliseum Lounge, was there first. It opened in 2006, four years before the church did.

Commissioner David Moore offered a motion to deny the permit. That died.

Commissioner Stan McClain said that, had the church been there first, he might have felt differently about voting for the permit.

Commissioner Kathy Bryant added that she believed the traffic at the store would be less of a nuisance because people would come and go quickly.

The board approved the permit, which runs for five years, by a 4-1 vote, with Moore dissenting.

<p>Plenty of neighbors complained recently about a new liquor store in their midst.</p><p>But the church next door wasn't one of the complainants.</p><p>The County Commission approved a special-use permit that allows a new liquor store at Baseline Road and Southeast 24th Street.</p><p>The outlet will sit next to the Good News Church — which was the primary reason the board got involved.</p><p>County land regulations forbid retail liquor sales within 500 feet of a church, school or public park unless the store owner is granted an exception. Beer and wine are OK, if they are sold for consumption elsewhere.</p><p>The liquor store owner, Jignesh Mody, needed the board's endorsement because the church sits 243 feet from his 5.9-acre site.</p><p>Commissioners received plenty of opposition to the plan at Tuesday's zoning hearings. Three residents from the Oakhurst subdivision across the street objected. One of them, Mike Liuzzi, presented a petition featuring the names of 70 people who wanted the proposal rejected.</p><p>Liuzzi explained that the community is worried about increased traffic and trash.</p><p>Oakhurst residents, Liuzzi said, routinely pick up beer bottles in their front yards discarded by the customers of a bar located in the Baseline Commons shopping center on the other side of where the liquor store will go.</p><p>Mody countered that the neighbors would not fight his store if a major retailer were introducing liquor sales on the property.</p><p>A majority of the commission sided with a staff recommendation to grant the permit.</p><p>The planning staff's report pointed out that the bar, C&D's Coliseum Lounge, was there first. It opened in 2006, four years before the church did.</p><p>Commissioner David Moore offered a motion to deny the permit. That died.</p><p>Commissioner Stan McClain said that, had the church been there first, he might have felt differently about voting for the permit.</p><p>Commissioner Kathy Bryant added that she believed the traffic at the store would be less of a nuisance because people would come and go quickly.</p><p>The board approved the permit, which runs for five years, by a 4-1 vote, with Moore dissenting.</p>